Indonesians dying in the Southern Ocean

Tragically that wasn't the only problem. Through the police statements (no Indonesians attended the inquest) the survivors alleged verbal and physical abuse, unsafe working conditions, shifts of up to 20 hours and a culture dominated by catch, not care.

Police evidence read to the inquest revealed a culture of fear, ignorance, uncertainty and language barriers on board the ship, which was ruled by an "angry man … who cared more for fish than the safety of his crew (and where) complainers could lose their jobs."

The Korean skipper went down with his ship, "hugging a post and crying while drinking clear liquid from a bottle."

Four months later another Korean fishing boat, No 1 Insung, sank in the Southern Ocean, perhaps after hitting an iceberg. Two of the 22 men who died were Indonesian.

Spurred by these disasters and 32 Indonesians walking off the Oyang 75 last July, a team from the University of Auckland's Business School researched conditions aboard foreign charter vessels operating in NZ waters.

The team interviewed 144 people, including surviving crew in Indonesia and the widows of the men who perished. Their report found "disturbing levels of inhumane conditions and practices (that) have become institutionalised."

Last year there were 27 overseas registered ships fishing in NZ's exclusive economic zone employing about 2,000 foreigners recruited in their homelands through manning agents. The men are supposed to be paid NZ rates of around NZ$15 (AUD$12) an hour but the reality is allegedly closer to NZ$1 (AUD$ 0.80).

Not in NZ's waters, surely?That's been public reaction and the title of the University report, which found the Indonesian recruits signed two contracts, one to be shown to NZ authorities and the other for a fraction of the proper wage.

The researchers heard stories of Jakarta manning agents locking the men and their families into huge penalties if they complained or jumped ship.

At the coronial inquest have been officials from NZ Government departments responsible for checking foreign charter vessels. Their statements have shown a lack of cooperation between agencies and conflicting evidence about the way regulations were enforced. Tellingly, officials say procedures have been tightened since the Oyang 70 sank.

The inquest is producing shocking headlines but the NZ government has long known that evil things were happening in the foreign boats fishing its economic zone.

Since 2005 there have been eight separate incidents involving 90 Indonesian ship- jumpers alleging inhumane physical, mental and sexual abuse and non-payment or under-payment of wages. They weren't alone: Chinese, Burmese and Vietnamese fishermen have also quit.